Current Research

Development of new identification techniques for detection of the pathogen Heterobasidion annosum.

Development of techniques that induce the formation of spalted wood to add value to lesser used hardwood species.

Research Interests

Investigating species boundaries and evolutionary relationships in the white rot genus Trametes.

The effect of climate change on the distribution of white-rot and brown-rot fungi.

Why This Research is Important

Wood decay fungi are extremely important in the forest. Some, like Heterobasidion annosum, are serious pathogens that kill trees, while others are saprotrophic, breaking down woody debris and returning carbon and nutrients to the soil. The identification of decay fungi is often difficult, especially among the polypores, which frequently do not have distinctive microscopic characteristics. Developing better tools for fungal identification will allow us to identify potentially invasive nonnative pathogens and assess the health of disturbed and nondisturbed forests through their fungal communities. The scientific development of techniques for the use of white rot fungi in the production of highly valued spalted wood will provide a market for lower valued hardwood species.